Brousse-le-Château

Brousse- le -Château is a commune of the Aveyron in the Midi-Pyrénées region. Administratively, it is assigned to the Canton of Saint-Rome -de- Tarn, in the arrondissement Millau.

The village is classified since 1997 as one of the plus beaux villages de France ( most beautiful villages in France ).

• 3.1 The Castle
• 3.2 Other buildings

Geography

The village with 149 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) is located in one of the southern foothills of the Massif Central in a wooded area at the confluence of the Tarn in Alrance about 50 kilometers south of Rodez and approximately 60 kilometers southeast of Millau. The municipality is part of the Regional Natural Park of Grands Causses.

The village is dominated by a medieval castle, perched on a rocky outcrop between the two rivers, dominated. The " Lauzedächer " (roofs with slate tiles ), and the facades of sandstone, gneiss or Schiste (slate) of the houses from the 17th and 18th century in the center of the village next to the gothic stone bridge reflect the geological diversity of the region.

The community is proud of their almond trees, whose peak around February 20 starts.

History

The place name Brousse is believed to have originated from the Latin Bruscia on the old French forms Bruis or Bruys. The modern French language knows the words bruyères ( " Heather " ) and broussailles ( " bush ").

The Castle of Brousse is first mentioned in 935. It was built by Ermengaud, Count of Rouergue, to secure the passage of the Tarn. Chief town of the county of Rouergue was Rodez. Ermengaud was married Adélaïde de Carcassonne. The two had a daughter, Garsinde de Rouergue, who inherited the fief. After her husband Raymond III. , Count of Toulouse, died young, the right to rule 975 went to her nephew Amelius, Bishop of Albi, over. Later was Raimond IV of Toulouse owner of Brousse. He died in 1105 on a crusade, to which the fief in the county of Rodez, the ruler of the house belonged to Millau rose. For now commanded Richard de Rodez ( Richard III de Millau called; . † 1135 ) on Brousse. He was followed in succession Hugo Hugo I. and II. Latter inherited the fief in 1204 to his cousin Bernard II.

Bernard II came from the home Arpajon that could defend the rule of Brousse for the next five centuries. Since the city is one of the few crossings over the Tarn held ready, the master had the pleasure of considerable length paths duties. The last male descendant of the dynasty was Louis d' Arpajon. His daughter Catherine Françoise sold the castle in 1700 to Gilles de Grandsaignes, the secretary of the king was. Just before the French Revolution acquired Jean -François Peyrot de Valhausy the estate of the family Grandsaignes. His daughter Marie married Joseph de Lauro, who sold the estate in 1839 the community.

Demographics

Attractions

The castle

The medieval fort Château de Brousse stands on a promontory overlooking the city. On the side of the village the castle wall of six towers flanked, including the Tour du Prisonnier ( " prison tower " ), the Tour de la Princesse ( "Princess Tower " ), the tour Picardy, of which today only represents the foundation ( with 45 meters, it was once the tallest tower in the province of Rouergue ) and in the northeast the tour à gorge ouverte ( "Tower with the open throat "). An archway follows the one carved into the rock vaults, offers the inlet to the castle ensemble.

The residential part with a square base is located in the southeast of the rock. The river Tarn out he is crowned with Machicolation. In the Renaissance elements were added, which served more comfort than the fortification. The grand staircase dates to the 17th, the broad breakthroughs of the 18th century. In the garden grow herbs and old roses.

As of 1963 the club La Vallée de l' Amitié took on the restoration of the castle. Today the buildings are open to the public and the community organizes temporary exhibitions there. The castle is a French cultural monument since 1943.

• Tour à gorge ouverte
• South facade
• Attachments

Other buildings

• The church Église Saint- Jacques Majeur from the 13th - 15th century, is a French cultural monument since 1937.

• The House of Prayer ( Oratory ) on the church cemetery of the church of Saint -Jacques- Majeur is a French cultural monument since 1937.

• The church Église Saint- Cirice that stands outside the village center, belonged to the Order of St. John. It was destroyed during the Huguenot wars, but rebuilt in 1640. She was a long time goal of pilgrimages mentally ill people.

• The stone bridge over the Abrance, which goes back to the year 1366, is a French cultural monument since 1937.

• Oratory
• Church Saint- Cirice
• Stone Bridge